Pro tip for Best of the Lehigh Valley 2017: come hungry. Our event has more vendors than last year, and we don’t want you to miss out on a single, delectable item. So mark your calendars because our Best of the Lehigh Valley Celebration on Thursday, July 13th from 6–9 p.m. at the Sands Bethlehem Event Center will be your ultimate cheat day, and we have all the information you need to plan out your meal of a lifetime.
Tapas on Main
Photo by Shelbie Pletz
Kick off your night with a trip to Tapas on Main for sangria the Valley raves about. Choose from white, red or sparkling wine mixed with liqueur and fruit. You won’t want to put your drink down.
Fegley’s Brew Works
Not a fan of sangria? No problem, instead sample beer from Fegley’s Brew Works, the Lehigh Valley’s Best Local Brewery. You have the option of tasting the seasonal Blueberry Belch or the flagship HOP Explosion. You can’t miss with either!
Now that you have your drink, accent your sangria or beer with an appetizer from any (or all, we won’t judge) of the following places:
Daddy’s Place
Get a taste of the Mediterranean without leaving the Lehigh Valley with hummus and bread from Daddy’s Place. Their mix of chickpeas, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and tahini sauce with homemade bread that is vegan friendly, makes for the perfect beginning to a tasty evening.
Simply Smooth
Photo by Shelbie Pletz
You’re bound to have a tough decision to make at this vendor. Simply Smooth options include: candied bacon, bedazzled bon bons, baked brie with candy pecans, honey garlic shrimp over jasmine rice and buffalo chicken ragoons. Start thinking about what you’ll want now! But we know it’s tough, our mouths are watering too.
Keystone Pub & Grill
Photo by Kori Livingston
Voted Best Bar Food, at Keystone you can pick between spinach artichoke dip, pork BBQ sliders and hand-breaded wings. No matter what you choose, it’s guaranteed to leave your taste buds happy.
Copperhead Grille
Straight from their seasonal menu are the pierogi empanadas from Copperhead Grille. Try this incredible mix of grilled onions, kielbasa, scallions, cheddar and jack cheese and horseradish sour cream as you begin to wind down on the appetizers.
blue grillhouse
Last, but certainly not least, are the braised boneless short rib sliders from blue. Just one bite will send you flying to their website to make a reservation.
Mr. Bill’s Poultry Market
We know what you’re thinking, “you said blue was last,” but that’s not true for our winners! Exclusive in the Winner’s Lounge is Mr. Bill’s Poultry Market. Winners have the opportunity to choose between chicken and waffles in a cone, Hawaiian teriyaki kabobs, golden deviled eggs and quinoa salad. Don’t you wish you were a winner?
Now that you’ve kicked your taste buds into gear, it’s time to choose your entrées (because you can’t have just one) from our fantastic vendors.
Yocco's
Photo by Colin Coleman
A staple to the Lehigh Valley since 1922, you have to grab a hot dog from Yocco’s. Prepared well-done with that extra special sauce, you’ll understand the rave for these ballpark favorites.
Bell Hall
If you had a hot dog, you might as well have a burger too! This Allentown hot-spot will prepare their gourmet, juicy burgers. If this is your first time sampling Bell Hall, it certainly won’t be your last!
Lehigh Pizza
Can you guess who produces over 2000 lbs of fresh dough a week and averages about 225 lbs of mozzarella cheese per day? Lehigh Pizza! Head over to their station for the best pizza by-the-slice.
Grille 3501
Grab a taste of fine dining from Grille 3501. Enjoy pork belly confit or duckfat fingerling potatoes to finish your entrées. What a perfect ending to a perfect dinner!
Finish up the evening with dessert! Because let’s be honest, there’s always room for dessert.
The Joint
Photo by Donovan Roberts Witmer
Before grabbing a treat, head over to The Joint for the new must-have drink of the summer, cold brew. It will perfectly complement your dessert while giving you the buzz you need to keep up with your friends.
Full of Crepe
Photo by Shelbie Pletz
If you’re not the type for desserts, head over to Full of Crepe and indulge in a savory crepe while your friends choose from the sweet crepes. It’s a perfect compromise for those with a sweet tooth and for those without.
Blondies Cupcakes
Photo by Alison Conklin
Known for their muffin size cupcakes, you’ll want to make a stop at Blondies. Their moist (we know you hate the word, but it’s true) cake is topped with a beautiful, decorative topping.
Menchie's Frozen Yogurt
Photo by Colin Coleman
Cleanse your palette with some cold and sweet frozen yogurt from Menchie’s. Also available are ice cream cake pops. Who could think of a better combo?
Northampton Community College
Sample decorative desserts from NCC’s adult continuing education cooking class. Their talents will inspire you to sign up next semester!
We think it’s safe to say you’ll leave Best of the Lehigh Valley with a stuffed, happy stomach, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. As Virginia Woolf once said, “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well if one has not dined well.” So, grab your friends (and your tickets), and we’ll see you at the Sands Bethlehem Event Center on July 13th.